Flag Football 2028: NFL stars are finally allowed to sniff Olympic air!

Flag Football 2028: NFL stars are finally allowed to sniff Olympic air!

The decision has been made: Flag football becomes part of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. This confirmation came on May 20, 2025, when the NFL owners made a decision that enables players to take part in the games. Approval offers the opportunity to present new talents at an international level. Particularly interesting speculations indicate a new “Dream Team” in the USA in football, 36 years after the historic gold medal win in basketball in Barcelona.

Justin Jefferson, a star player of the Minnesota Vikings, was enthusiastic about the globalization of the football. The initiative for participation in the Olympic Games is promoted by the US Profiliga in cooperation with the player union, the International Football Association (IFAF) and the Olympic authorities to develop the rules of participation. The Olympics in Los Angeles thus mark an important milestone for sport.

structures and formats of competition

For the 2028 Olympics, six men and six women's teams are planned, each consisting of ten players. The game is played in five-against-five format, on a 50-yard field. 31 nations took part in the last world championship, with the Austrian men achieved the vice world championship title and the women took fourth place.

flag football differs fundamentally from the conventional American football, which was never officially part of the Olympic Games, but only appeared as a demonstration sport in 1904 and 1932. This decision aims to make the sport accessible to a wider audience and minimize violation risks. The IOC had already approved Flag Football in October 2023 as one of the five new sports for the games.

The importance of flag football for sport

The introduction of Flag Football could also have long -term effects on the popularity of sport worldwide. The NFL commissioner Roger Goodell emphasized how important this decision is for young people worldwide. The goal is to strengthen Flag Football's place within the Olympic movement and to further promote the worldwide growth of this sport. According to estimates, 20 million people in over 100 countries flag are now playing football, and popularity, especially in women and girls, is increasing.

As part of the preparations for the IFAF Flag Football World Cup 2024 in Finland, 65 national teams will take part in a continental competition format. This development shows that Flag Football will become more important both as a sport and as an integrative part of the Olympic program in the coming years. The involvement of Flag Football is not only a chance to continue to promote sport, but also to live and pass on Olympic ideals.

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